Water-cooled refrigerator.



K. A. THOMPSON.

wmn COOLED REFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 17. 1915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

HHHHHHHI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WATER-COOLED REFRIGERATOR;

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented luay 29, 1917,

Application flledMay- 17, 1915. Serial No. 28,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATHERINE A. THOMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwau kee, and State of Wisconsin, have-invented new and useful Improvements in Water- Cooled Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device for lowering the temperature of a provision receptacle with cool water.

It is a well known fact that in many places the cost of ice is prohibitive beyond the reach of the poorer class of people.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple, cheap and durable receptacle for butter, eggs and other household provisions, the preservation of which require a lower temperature than that of the ordinary compartment of adwelling, and to accomplish this object I have provided a suitable receptacle in which such provisions may be stored, and I have also provided means for surrounding the same upon all sides with a flowing stream of cold water whereby the required temperature may be maintained at a minimum cost.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section thereof drawn on line 00, w of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section drawn on line 1g: of Fig. 1.

ike parts are identified by the same reference numerals throughout both views.

1 is a receptacle for storing household provisions, and the same is suspended from the exterior inclosing receptacle 2 by the flanges .3 which rest upon the inwardly extending flanges 4c of the exterior receptacle. The flanges 3 and 1 are preferably secured to gether by a plurality of bolts 5. 6 is a water space which is formed between the lnterior receptacle 1 and the exterior receptacle 2,

and water is led to the space 6 through the duct 7. The duct 7 is adapted to be connected with a hydrant or other city water supply through the flexible tube 8. A faucet, not shown, is preferably formed at the end of the city water supply, which is adapted to be connected with the opposite end of the flexible duct 8. 9 is an outlet duct through which the water escapes from the space 6 as it becomes heated and rises to the top of sand space as indicated by the arrow 10 in Fig. 1. 11 is a deflector which performs a very important function in causing the water to be thrown rearwardly and to the sides of the water space as indicated by the arrows 12.

It will be obvious that were the deflector 11 dispensed with the cold Water might pass in a direct course to the rear end of the receptacle 1 when it would pass up and thence out through the duct 9. In view of the fact, however, that the current of water is brought in direct contact with the deflector it will be thrown not only toward the right and left against the vertical walls 13, 13 but it will also be thrown rearwardly against the wall 14: when. it will pass from thence upwardly to the top of the space 6, when it will flow through said space 6 to the rear of'the receptacle 1, whereby cold Water will be brought in contact with the entire surface of said receptacle 1, and whereby the contents of said receptacle will be retained at a low temperature. 15 is the cover of the receptacle. The cover 15 is preferably provided with a space 16 which may, if desired, be filled with asbestos, tan bark or other nonheat conductor, but the same is preferably supplied with a volume of water which is led thereto from the space 6 through the flexible tube 17, when it passes from thence to the duct 9 through the flexible duct 18. By this arrangement it is obvious that a circulation of cold water may be maintained not only upon the respective sides and bottom of the receptacle 1 but also in the cover 15, The cover 15 is connected with the walls of the receptacle 2 by a plurality of hinges 19, and the length of the flexible tubes 17 and 18 are such as to permit the cover 15 to be opened and closed. 20 is a drip trough.

Experience has demonstrated the fact that when a vessel is filled with cold water it is liable to accumulate moisture from the'atmosphere upon its exterior surface, and the obj ectof the drip trough 20 is to receive such moisture as accumulates upon the exterior surface of the receptacle 2 when the same is conducted to the outlet duct 9 through the aperture 21.

- Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the describedclass, the combination of a provision receptacle and an inclosing receptacle surrounding such provision receptacle upon all sides except upon and exterior receptacles to the cold water space in said door or cover, an additional flexible duct communicating from the cold water space in said door or cover to the outlet duct of said first named cold Water chamher, a drip trough located near the lower side of said device, provided with a discharge opening leading to the outlet duct.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' KATHERINE A. THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses:

JAS. B. ERWIN, IRMA D. BREMLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. C. 

